Sir David Shackleton
David Shackleton was born at Cloughfold near Rawtenstall in 1863 and by the age of nine was working in a weaving shed at Haslingden, running three looms by the age of twelve. He walked to evening classes in Accrington after his daily work, and later obtained work in that town. At the age of 20 he married Sarah Broadbent, whose family were ardent trade unionists. He joined and became active in the Accrington Weavers' Association and was sacked for his union activities. He was out of work for seventeen weeks.
He became secretary of first Ramsbottom and then Darwen Weavers' Association. In 1894 he was elected to Darwen Town Council. He lived in Victoria Street and later London Terrace. In 1902 he was elected Member of Parliament for the Clitheroe Division, becoming one of only four Labour MPs. In 1905 he became Chairman of the National Labour Party.
He was in Parliament eight years. He was a champion of women's suffrage and the trade union movement. He served on the Committee of the Board of Education, the Committee on Old Age Pensions and the Committee dealing with steaming in weaving sheds. In 1910 he was appointed Labour Advisor to Home Office by Winston Churchill. In 1916 he became Permanent Secretary to the newly created Ministry of Labour. He was a member of the Royal Commission on Railways. He never lost his affection for Darwen and his London residence was named 'Sunnyhurst,' after his favourite beauty spot.
David Shackleton was a staunch teetotaller and non-smoker. He retired in 1925 and went to live in Beach Road, St Anne's. He died there in 1938 at the age of 74. but he returned to his beloved Darwen at last. He was buried in Darwen Cemetery. Officers of the Lancashire Constabulary acted as pall bearers.
